New Hampshire Teenage Volunteer Scammed

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http://www.wmur.com/news/21976946/detail.html

Teenager Trying To Volunteer Falls Victim To Scam
Police Say Web Site Was Not For Legitimate Organization
POSTED: 6:09 pm EST December 15, 2009

HOPKINTON, N.H. -- A teenager who wanted to volunteer to help children in Africa said he ended up the victim of an Internet scam instead.

Chris Wardell, of Hopkinton, N.H., said he was always a little suspicious about the organization he was giving money to, but every question he asked seemed to have a legitimate answer -- until his mother called about his plane ticket.

Wardell was just out of high school and decided to pursue some volunteer work in Africa teaching English and helping with child care. He found a Web site called the Goodwill Brothers Organization and started communicating with it through an e-mail account.

Over the course of about two months, he wired money for a visa, a plane ticket and more than $7,000 for what's called proof of funds -- money to show he could get out of the country in case of an emergency.

"That's one of the things that kept me not suspicious, is that I would have had to do these things, so why would I be curious about it?" he said.

But on the eve of his trip, his mother called to check on his plane ticket.

"I called Swiss Air, and they said, 'We have no Chris Wardell,' and that's when my heart sank and I knew it was bogus, because he had sent this money for the ticket and he was not on the flight," said Carlie Wardell.

"Based on everything we have been able to uncover at this point, this is a scam," said Trooper John Marasco of the New Hampshire State Police.

Marasco said the Web site, the travel agency and the visa information are all linked to an e-mail account that contains no real information.

"The Web site contains a Yahoo e-mail that is not populated with an address or legitimate contact information for this Goodwill Brothers Organization that is shown on the Web site," Marasco said.

He said a legitimate Goodwill Brothers Organization may exist somewhere in the world, but he has been unable to locate it.

The Wardells have tried to get their money back, but the only contact point they have is the Yahoo account, and they have gotten nowhere.

"Chris was trying to do something good," his mother said. "It's not like he got duped out of greed. He was trying to give up his own time and just help."

The Wardells said they realize that their money is gone, but Chris said he hasn't given up on going to Africa and volunteering. He said he just needs to get some money together, and he will be more careful about setting up his trip. Tell Us More: E-mail WMUR your tips and story ideas.
Copyright 2009 by WMUR.

There is literally no level to which scammer/s won't stoop, to steal from the innocent!

What a pure and shining soul this young man is. This story got to me, as he reminds me of one of my children at that age. To say that he still wants to help, after being robbed by the very ones he was trying to help, is a testament to his character, and to his family.

I'm sure his efforts will be rewarded 'somewhere in time'....and that he will be able to realize his dream in the future, by utilizing extreme caution, and by having absolute verification from reliable sources in place.

Please remember....do not send anything, (money or otherwise), to an unverifiable website, email address - (basically anyone!) on the internet, until you've checked, double checked, and triple checked, that it is legitimate first.

Sad story, but indeed a testament to the character of this young man. His parents are justly proud of him, I'm sure.

Just a note of caution to anyone planning a trip to a foreign country for any reason: you must get your own visa. You must go to the embassy or consulate for the country you wish to visit and apply there for the visa. Scammers are literally banking on the fact that many people do not know this.

It's also wisest to make your own travel arrangements, not only to be safe from being scammed out of your travel money, but also because so many little things can go wrong with travel arrangements that it's best to be the one in charge of them.